Swansea school board considers penalty for parents who don't file bus service forms on time

Tuesday

Mar 25, 2014 at 6:27 PMMar 25, 2014 at 8:22 PM

Deborah Allard Herald News Staff Reporter @debsallard

SWANSEA — Parents of students in grades 7 to 12 who can’t get bus transportation forms in on time may be facing a penalty.

For the past couple of years, school district officials have been begging and battling with parents to get paperwork in on time so bus routes can be planned.

With that problem in mind, School Committee member Christopher Carreiro has proposed implementing an administrative fee for those who miss the deadline.

Carreiro said the district often has to rework routes to fit in students whose parents filed late, causing students to be put on buses that are already filled. It causes an administrative “headache” to all involved, he said.

“I think maybe a fee should be imposed if (forms are) passed in late,” Carreiro said. “We’re going to be dealing with this in six months.”

Carreiro also proposed that forms be easier for parents to spot and find, such as printing them in pink or red and also making them available in digital form.

Bus fees for kids in grades 7 to 12 were eliminated for the 2012-13 school year, making it the first time in years students in middle and high school were able to ride for free.

Parents were paying roughly $150 per child each school year to ride the bus.

Massachusetts law requires only that cities and towns provide free bus transportation to kids in kindergarten up to Grade 6 if they live more than two miles' walking distance from school.

The district is not required to offer free bus service to kids in grades 7 to 12.

School Committee Vice Chairman Joseph Salpietro said it “comes down to the parent not stepping up.”

He said it was unfortunate that the student has to be the one in the “unenviable position” when fees are not paid.

“There needs to be a consequence,” Salpietro said. “I’m not sure if there needs to be a fee, but a consequence.”

Forms will be made available in paper form and on the district’s website, and can also be emailed. Applications for the 2014-15 school year will be due by June 13.